Gardner Unsure Of Own Slate

November 26, 1994|By Robert Davis, Tribune Staff Writer.

Democratic mayoral candidate Joseph Gardner said Friday he was unsure whether he will field a slate of running mates in the upcoming Feb. 28 primary election, but he had kind words for those potential officeseekers who have a history of bucking incumbent Mayor Richard Daley.

In addition to the mayor's slot, two other citywide offices will be on the local primary ballot-clerk and city treasurer-and mayoral candidates have traditionally chosen running mates for those posts.

But Gardner, a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner and the only officially announced Democratic mayoral candidate, said he has not yet decided if he will follow tradition.

"I'm taking on a king, so I can't be a kingmaker," said Gardner.

Still, he said during a taping of the WMAQ-AM radio show, "The Reporters," to be broadcast at 9 a.m. Sunday, he is a fan of at least three persons who are expected to be candidates in the Feb. 28 Democratic primary.

He singled out incumbent City Treasurer Miriam Santos, a former political ally and Daley running mate who made a highly-publicized political break with her former mentor two years ago, when Daley unsuccessfully tried to get her dumped from her state-mandated seat on two city pensions boards.

"I think Miriam Santos has done an excellent job," said Gardner.

Gardner also said he feels politically allied with both Ald. James Laski (23nd) and State Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), both of whom have announced their intentions to run for the largely administrative city clerk post in the Democratic primary.

The current officeholder is retired businessman Ernest Wish, who has said he would not seek election. He was named by Daley to fill the unexpired term of Walter Kozubowski, after the latter was convicted of federal corruption charges.

Gardner saluted Laski for splitting with Daley and his sponsor, U.S. Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.) two years ago over city tax issues. However, Laski since has made peace with both the mayor and Lipinski, the ward's Democratic committeeman, and expects to receive their support in the clerk's campaign.

Hendon has been a vocal critic of Daley as 27th Ward alderman and, later, as a state senator. Gardner also described him as a good candidate for the clerk's office.

Daley has been mum on his intentions in the other two citywide races, but it is expected that he will likely take a half-step back from tradition and come out publicly in favor of an "open" Democratic primary, while privately lending his support to candidates of his choosing.

On another subject Friday, Gardner criticized Daley for leading a bus caravan to Springfield earlier this month to push for state legislative passage of his proposed package of anti-crime laws. He called the event a ceremonial gesture that came too late in the current veto session.

As Chicago's mayor, Gardner said, he would virtually take up residence in Springfield while the legislature is in session and bring department heads down to lobby lawmakers and their counterparts in state departments to secure financial help for Chicago schools, law enforcement and economic development.